C++/CLI in Action (Manning) (Paperback)

by Nishant Sivakumar (Author)
Key Phrases: interop mechanisms, interior pointer, delegate map, Windows Forms, Hello World, Garbage Collector (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
C++ is the language of choice for thousands of applications and millions of lines of code. With C++/CLI, developers can integrate existing C++ code into the .NET platform without rewriting their applications. This book explores the C++/CLI syntax, teaches how to mix native C++ and managed .NET code, and shows how to integrate C++ with Windows Forms, WPF (Avalon), and WCF (Indigo).

Imagine taking a C++-based program you've been using for a decade and giving it a snazzy new interface using Windows Presentation Foundation. How about making your old business applications talk to your new ones using Windows Communication Foundation. C++/CLI makes this--and more--possible. C++/CLI in Action shows you how to bridge the gap between your existing C++ code and the .NET platform. C++/CLI in Action will help you if:

You're hesitant to migrate to .NET because it means rewriting code in C# or VB.

You have significant C++ expertise that you want to leverage in the .NET.

You only need to use pieces of the .NET framework, such as Windows Forms or web services.

There's no fluff here. Designed for readers who already know C++, this book starts by teaching the unique aspects of the C++/CLI language. After a quick tour through the basics, readers work through examples of integrating standard C++ into the .NET-based applications and building programs that mix C++ and .NET code for maximum performance and efficiency.

About the Author
Nishant Sivakumar has extensive experience with Visual C++, MFC, C#, and the .NET Framework. He has been a Microsoft Visual C++ MVP since 2002 and maintains an MVP tips and tricks website and a popular blog. Nish is in charge of several products for The Code Project. He also authored Extending MFC Applications with the .NET Framework. Nish lives with his wife in Toronto, Ontario.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Manning Publications (April 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932394818
• ISBN-13: 978-1932394818
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #185,363 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, May 14, 2007

By	KG "KG" - See all my reviews

Nishant did an excellent job with this book. The only complaint is that he could have made it bigger.

He separates himself from the rest. The difference is his book covers:

1. MFC/Managed C++ integration. Excellent chapter.
He shows how to add any Managed class to either
an MFC Dialog or MFC View. My favorite chapters are
five and six.

2. Templates/Generic mixing. Even covers managed template
inheritance.

3. Advanced event covering with C++. I have worked with C++/C#
for years, and I didn't know this about events. Very good.



4. Avalon integration. This is somewhat lacking, but it is still
very good coverage.

I would recommend this book to anybody.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent text, June 15, 2008

By	golden_ "golden_" (Colorado) - See all my reviews

The book is well written, and brings the reader along slowly enough to grasp all the important concepts along the way. The book will take an experienced C++ programmer easily through every concept he/she needs to know in order to use the language in the .NET environment.

Chapter 1 introduces simple CLI concepts such as the /clr compiler option, CLR types, handles, gcnew, and boxing. Chapters 2 and 3 graduate to more advanced concepts including delegates, finalizers, managed templates, and generics.

Chapters 4 and 5 explain how to mix native code and managed code, in numerous, practical scenarios. The author presents one very clever technique for wrapping managed classes, which is more elegant than any other techniques you are likely to encounter.

Chapter 6 explains how to interop Windows Forms with MFC or vice versa. Chapter 7 shows three techniques for using WPF (Avalon) in C++/CLI (yes, it is possible). By the way, the third technique is no longer supported by Microsoft. And finally, chapter 8 covers WCF.

The author writes in a style that is interesting and keeps the reader engaged. He uses analogies effectively to help the reader connect concepts or to see them in a different light. He reassures the reader when a new idea is first mentioned, that it will be fully explained at a later point, if not in the current context. I found Sivakumar to be one of the best technical authors out there.

I would highly recommend this book to someone who needs to make the move to .NET programming from plain C++, or for someone who needs to interop managed and unmanaged code.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good, November 7, 2008

By	Phil H (Alpharetta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

There aren't many C++/CLI books out there, and although this is the only one I've read, I have to say it's excellent. The first two parts of the book are essential reading and really represent all anyone should need to know about C++/CLI, in my opinion. The discussion on generics and managed templates was great.